NEWS RELEASE
APEGNB advises MCSE grads not to use the term “engineer”
August 7, 2002
FREDERICTON— Due to Microsoft’s recent announcement stating they will continue to use the term “engineer” as part of their Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) designation, the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of New Brunswick (APEGNB) is advising MCSE holders that they will be subjected to laws of the province of New Brunswick and prosecuted should they improperly represent themselves to the public as an “engineer”.
“It’s not something we want to do but Microsoft has left us no choice,” says APEGNB president, J. Allan Giberson, P.Eng. “The term ‘engineer’ and the profession itself are strictly regulated across Canada—similar to the legal and medical professions. Last year, Microsoft agreed to advise their Canadian holders of the MCSE certification not to call themselves engineers or use the full title. Now that they’ve reversed their decision, we will enforce the Province’s
Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act.”
According
to the Act, Section 20 (1), any person who is not a registered member
of APEGNB and presents themselves as an “engineer”, (e.g., stating it on business cards or résumés),
commits an offence punishable by the penalties set forth in the Engineering
and Geoscience Professions Act of up to $50,000.
Since 1920, APEGNB has been the authority tasked with the enforcement of that Act.
“Professional engineers have an enormous responsibility to the public,” explains Mr. Giberson. “When engineers create a design and construct such things as superstructures, airplanes, computerized control systems and highways, public safety and confidence are at stake. People expect a lot from engineers, and the confidence that the public places in qualified engineers is of the utmost importance. It’s
also why governments across Canada put the responsibility of regulating
the professions in the hands of qualified professionals.”
He
adds, “Becoming a professional engineer is not just a matter of
completing a few weeks of studies. In New Brunswick, it requires
graduation from an accredited university and four years of internship.
Our professional
engineers typically invest more than $50,000 in their education and
four years of mandatory internship. Once they receive their designation,
they
are required to adhere to a professional code of ethics and demonstrate
continued competency in their field of expertise. We take our profession
and its responsibilities very seriously and so does the Province
of New Brunswick.”
To
date, APEGNB has not proceeded with any legal action. Mr. Giberson
says that if it finds people in contravention of the Engineering and Geoscience
Professions Act, they will first be informed that they are not entitled
to use the term ‘engineer’. If they continue to present themselves as “engineers” after the notification, APEGNB says it is “fully
prepared to enforce the Act to its fullest extent.”
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The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists regulates and governs the practice of engineering and geoscience in the province in accordance with the Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act of 1999. APEGNB has over 4,000 members and is managed by a full-time staff, a volunteer Council and various committees. The Association is affiliated with the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers which represents approximately 160,000 engineers across Canada.
To
view a copy of New Brunswick’s Engineering and Geoscience Professions
Act, visit www.apegnb.com/about_us/ethics.html
For more information, contact:
J. Allan Giberson, P.Eng. Andrew McLeod
President Executive Director
APEGNB APEGNB
Tel: 506-452-9000 Tel: 506-458-8083